Job 34

1 Moreover Elihu answered,

Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

2 “Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

Hear my words, O you wise men; and give ear to me, you that have knowledge.

3 For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.

For the ear tries words, as the mouth tastes meat.

4 Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.

Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right.

For Job has said, I am righteous: and God has taken away my judgment.

6 Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’

Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

7 What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,

What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water?

8 who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?

Which goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men.

9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’

For he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

10 “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

Therefore listen to me you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

11 For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

For the work of a man shall he render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12 Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

Yes, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

13 Who put him in charge of the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world?

Who has given him a charge over the earth? or who has disposed the whole world?

14 If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,

If he set his heart on man, if he gather to himself his spirit and his breath;

15 all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again to dust.

16 “If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.

If now you have understanding, hear this: listen to the voice of my words.

17 Should even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,

Shall even he that hates right govern? and will you condemn him that is most just?

18 who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?

Is it fit to say to a king, You are wicked? and to princes, You are ungodly?

19 He does not respect the persons of princes, nor respect the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of his hands.

How much less to him that accepts not the persons of princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

20 In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.

In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.

For his eyes are on the ways of man, and he sees all his goings.

22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 For he does not need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

For he will not lay on man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

24 He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.

He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

25 Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

Therefore he knows their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

27 because they turned away from following him, and would not pay attention to any of his ways,

Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.

So that they cause the cry of the poor to come to him, and he hears the cry of the afflicted.

29 When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? He is over a nation or a man alike,

When he gives quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hides his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

30 that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

31 “For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.

Surely it is meet to be said to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

32 Teach me that which I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

That which I see not teach you me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

33 Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.

Should it be according to your mind? he will recompense it, whether you refuse, or whether you choose; and not I: therefore speak what you know.

34 Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:

Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man listen to me.

35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’

Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

36 I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.

My desire is that Job may be tried to the end because of his answers for wicked men.

37 For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”

For he adds rebellion to his sin, he claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.